maclaurin



I (No Modl.)

G. S MAOLAURIN.

PORTABLE SGAFFOLR 2 Sheets-Shet 1.

Patented Dem-1'7, 1889.

2' Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

G. S. MAOLAURIN. v PORTABLE SGAPFOLD. No. 417,678;

Patented Dec. 17

UNITED STATES GEORGE s.

PATENT FFICE.

MACLAURIN, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA,ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO OHN H.CRANKSHAW, OF SAME PLACE.

PORTABLE SCAFFQLD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 417,678, dated December17, 1889. I Application filed May 16, 1889. Serial No. 311,055. (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE S. MACLAURIN, of the city of Philadelphia andState of Pennsylvania, have invented a certain new an d usefulImprovement in Portable Scaffolds; and I do hereby declare the followingto be a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification.

My invention has relation to portable adj ustable scaffolds; and itconsists in the devices for securing and adjusting the braces to theuprights at any desired height or position, in adjustably securing theledge-boards to the uprights to any desired height, in splicing theuprights, and also in securing the brackets for supporting thefoot-planks to the uprights, all as hereinafter substantially" set forthand described.

The object of my invention is to provide a safe and secure scaffold, andone that can be readily adjusted to any desired height.

In accomplishing the object of my invention I employ, in combinationwith the uprights, braces, and brackets, locking-plates adjustable onand fixed to the braces at'their respective ends, adapted to engage uponfixed pins or spurs secured at desired intervals to the uprights. As itis desirable to affix the spurs or pins to but two of the opposite sidesof the uprights, principally for convenience .in handling the uprights,the construction and design of the securing-plates on the respectiveendsof the braces are necessarily different in the side braces from those inthe front and rear braces.

I will now describe my invention, so that others skilled in the art towhich it appertains may make and use the same, reference being had tothe accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in whichsimilar letters of reference refer to similar parts throughout.

' Figure 1 is a perspective view of my scaffold erected and in position,built so as to show all sides and the various parts in their severalconnections. Figs. 2 and 3 show a broken cross beam or brace, with theirrein Fig. 3 being fixed to the brace, the adjustable device shown inFig. 2 being employed when the locking-pins on the uprights are on thesurface of the upright, which is at right angles to theface of theupright on a plane with the brace. Fig. 4 is an end and partiallycross-sectional View of the adjustable securing device shown in Fig. 2.Fig. 5 is a I cross-sectional view of the fixed end-securing 6o deviceshown in Fig. 3, on the lineac a: of Fig. 3. Fig. 6 shows theend-securing device fixed to the brace, as shown in Fig. 3, showing indetail the method of securing the same to the upright. Fig. 7 is anadjustable braceend-securing device employed where the locking-pins areon the surface of the uprights in immediate contact with which thebraces come, as contradistinguished from the adjustable end-securingdevice shown in Figs. 2 and 4:. Fig. 8 is an end view of Fig. 7. Fig. 9is the plate-securing device secured to the other,extremity of the bracefrom that on which the adjustable device in Fig. 7 is employed. Fig. 10is a cross-sectional view on the line y y of the securing-plate andbraceend shown in Fig. 9. Fig. 11 is an adjustable bracket forsupporting a foot-plank. Fig. 12 is a perspective view of the bracketshown in Fig. 11, having its locking-plates at right angles to the lineof the locking-plate represented in Fig. 11. Fig. 13'is the adjustableledge-board-securing bracket in cross section, showing thesecuring-ratchets on the upright and the movable pawl attached to .thebracket. Fig. 14 is a perspective view of the ledgeboard-securingbracket shown in Fig. 13 detached from the upright. Fig. 15 shows thesplicing device for splicing the uprights.

A A are the uprights of the scaffold, which 0 are secured in position bythe oblique braces B and B and the cross horizontal braces O C. Allthese braces are secured adj ustably to the uprights by means of thelocking-plates attached to the ends of the braces inter- 5 looking intothe pins or spurs provided on the uprights.

a represents the pins or spurs secured to the uprights A, preferably ontwo opposite sides at desired intervals. These spurs ahave preferablyelliptical-shaped heads adapted to interlock with the securing-platesattached cts (Z to the cross-braces and are secured to the uprights A byriveting orotherwise. Affixed to one end of the brace 13 is thesecuring-plate I), having an oblong or elliptical opening therein at anoblique angle to the line of the brace, which is adapted to engage withthe horizontal head of the spur or pin a, secured to the upright A. Anopening or recess 0 is provided in the brace B for the head of the spuror pin a underthe plate I). Attheopposite end of the brace B is anadjustable plate 2), adapted to engage on the spura and interlocktherewith, and adjustable on the brace B to any desired point by meansof the winged nut or screw 0 to secure the brace B firmly to the uprightA.

It will here be noticed, as before stated, that as the spurs arepreferably only on two of the opposite sides of the uprights A thesecuring-plates adapted to engage with the spurs a, provided on the endsof the side braces B, must necessarily have to be at right angles to theline of its brace.

At one end of the brace 13 is pivotally secured the plate 0 at about aright angle to the plane of the brace adapted to interlock with the spura, as shown in Figs. 5 and (5. At the opposite end of the brace B isadjustably and pivotally secured the plate 0, as shown in Fig. 4,adapted to interlock with the spur a, and adjustable on the brace B bymeans of the winged nut or thumb-screw 0 the plate 0' being pivotallyadjusted to that portion which incloses the brace B, and which is boundto the brace B by the thumb-screw c 0 is a space or recess provided inthe braces B beneath the plate 71 to accommodate the head of the spur a.

0 is an opening in the plate 0'.

0 is an opening in the plate 0, and o is an opening in the plate 1) toallow of the entrance of the head of the spur a when the plates andspurs are being fitted or locked together.

D represents the ledge-board-supporting brackets, secured adj ustably onthe uprights A, adapted to be clamped thereto by tightening the nuts onthe bolts (1, as shown in Figs. 13 and 14 in detail, the turning ofwhich draws together the two L-shaped brackets shown in Fig. 14, andbinds tightly upon the opposite sides of the upright A and prevents thebrackctand the ledge-board C which it supports, from slipping on theupright A. As additional precaution, however, at about the points wherethe ledge-boards are usually secured on the uprights A,I provide theratchcountersunk in the uprights A, into which the pawls (Z, provided onthe brackets D, are adapted to engage.

E represents the upright splicing-plates, secured to the lower end ofthe uprightdesired to be added to the uprightA to secure additionalheight. The hooks e of the plate E engage upon the spurs a, provided onthe upper end of the upright A, and thus firmly secures the extension tothe uprightA and prevents the same from slipping longitudinally orlaterally.

G is a bracket for supporting a foot-plank, having its securing-plates g1 parallel with the line of the bracket, and G is a similar bracket, buthaving its securing-plates g g at right angles to the line of thebracket. It will be seen that these two brackets are adapted to beadjusted to different sides of the uprights.

\Vhen it is desired to erect a scaffold, as shown in Fig. 1, or to erecta portion of the same, as against a wall, the uprights, having beentemporarily supported, are then braced by adjusting to each therespective ends of the braces B or B by engaging the locking-plates onthe respective ends of the braces with the spurs 0, attached to theuprights, the desired distance between the plates on the respective endsbeing regulated by means of the winged nut or screw on the adjustableplate at one end of each brace. The scaffold is in this manner properly,readily, and firmly secured and erected to any desired height by meansof the splicing devices hereinbefore described. The ledge-boards may besecured at any desired position, and the brackets for support ing thefoot-planks placed in position Without loss of time, and all Withoutemployment of hammer or nail.

The locking-plates are preferably made with an orifice in the mannershown in the drawings,'so as, after admitting the head of the spur a,the plate may drop slightly down back of the head of the spur, andthereby be secured in position. The length of the shank of the spur a,between the head and the face of the upright A, is equal to or slightlygreater than the thickness of the end-securing plate.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is

1. In a scaffold, in combination with the uprights and the braces, thelocking-plates, fixed and adjustable, and the fixed spurs, substantiallyas hereinbefore set forth and described.

2. In a scaffold, locking-plates, one fixed and one adjustable, at ornear the respective ends of each respective brace, in combination withfixed spurs, and adapted to engage thereon and therewith for securingthe respective ends of the braces to the uprights in the construction ofthe scaffold, substantially as hereinbefore set forth and described.

3. In combination with the uprights and cross pieces or braces of ascaffold, the spurs a, fixed to the uprights A, the fixed lockingplatessecured to one end of the braces, and the adj ustable locking-platessecured at or near the other end of the said braces, substantially ashereinbefore set forth and described.

4. In a scaffold, the adjustable ledge-boardsecuring bracket D, thebinding-clamp cl, and the pawl d, in combination with the ratchet daffixed to the upright, substantially as hereinbefore set forth anddescribed.

5. In a scaffold, the hooked splicingeplates E, secured at one end ofthe upright to be spliced, one plate on each side thereof opposite eachother, in combination with the fixed spurs a, affixed to the end of theother upright, substantially as hereinbefore set forth and described.

6. In a scaffold, the uprights A, spurs a, provided thereon,braces B B"O C, and fixed an d ad just able locking-plates provided on the braces,adapted to interlock with the spurs a, each brace being provided with alockingplate at or near each end thereof, one of the said locking-platesbeing adj ustable' thereon, substantially as hereinbefore set forth anddescribed.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 14th day of May, A.D. 1889.

GEORGE S. MACLAURIN. ltnessesz HORACE PETTIT, REESE M. FLEISCHMAN.

